Writ. Supp.

15 Effect Paragraph

1. TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS

1.3.2 Effect Paragraph

Paragraphs on effect discuss the effects of something on people or things. The structure of an effect paragraph is as
follows:
● Topic sentence lists or states the effects, and the controlling idea always focuses on them. There are at least
three supporting ideas and each focuses on one effect.
● Each supporting sentence is followed by details, examples or explanations.
● The last sentence concludes the paragraph by summarizing the main points discussed in the paragraph.

Expression used in effect paragraphs

Therefore Our company is expanding rapidly. Therefore / For this reason/ Thus / As a result /
Consequently, we hired new people.
Thus
Our company is expanding rapidly; therefore / thus / as a result / consequently, we hired
Consequently new people.

As a result Children watch too much television. Therefore / For this reason / Thus / As a result /
Consequently, they lose their creativity.
For this reason

So Our company is expanding rapidly, so we hired new people.

Children watch too much television, so they lose their creativity.

Other expressions Crime is caused by drug use and unemployment.

is produced by

results from

is the result of

is the consequence of

is the effect of

ACTIVITY 5. Combine the sentences using transition signals in parentheses.

1. Sunlight has some positive effects. We should not completely avoid going out in the sun. (thus)
___________________________________________________________________________ .
2. Sunlight produces Vitamin D. We need sunlight for a healthy body. (so)
___________________________________________________________________________ .
3. Sunlight affects the human body clock. Regular exposure to the sun helps people sleep better. (as a result)
___________________________________________________________________________ .
4. The government is always poor and has to borrow money from other countries. Very few people pay taxes in this
country. (therefore)
__________________________________________________________________________ .
5. Carlos found working in Japan very difficult because of the language problem. (for this reason)
__________________________________________________________________________ .

ACTIVITY 6. Write sentences using the given phrases in the brackets.

e.g. smoking/ lung cancer and heart diseases. (result in)

Smoking results in lung cancer and heart diseases.

1. poor living conditions/ migration to bigger cities. (be the consequence of)

___________________________________________________________________________ .
2. gradual warming of the atmosphere/ changes in water levels. (result from)
___________________________________________________________________________ .
3. accidents/ / on the road /driving carelessly (be the effect of)
___________________________________________________________________________ .
4. eating too much /boredom, stress, depression. (is caused by)
___________________________________________________________________________ .

ACTIVITY 7. Choose the best linker that fits into the sentence. Pay attention to punctuation.

1. Many species of wildlife are becoming extinct due to / since / consequently the rainforests are being destroyed.
2. Logging provides jobs and profits; consequently, / as / because of the government is unwilling to control it.
3. Hemp was grown throughout history due to / so / since its versatility; it can be used to make many different things.
4. He lost his driving license because of / as a result of / because he was convicted of drinking and driving.

ACTIVITY 8. Complete the paragraph using the transition signals below.

final in summary for example first

therefore another likewise
brings about

Wars have several harmful effects. The (1) ______________ effect of wars is felt in a country’s economy. War
(2)
______________ destruction of buildings, roads, highways, railways, and ports. (3) _______________, it would take
many years for a country to recover from the economic loss and turn back to normal life. (4) ______________ effect of
wars is that people suffer psychologically. Many parents lose their children in wars, and this affects them negatively.
(5)
__________, many children survive wars with images of destruction, pain and blood, which affect them
psychologically throughout their lives. The (6) _____________ and the most important effect of wars is felt in
international relations. (7) _______________, after World War II, the division of Europe into west and east caused
many countries to cut off diplomatic relations with each other. (8) ____________, wars have a huge impact on
economy, people, and international relations.

Sample Paragraph 1

Taking a salsa dance class has had many positive effects on my life. One of the first things I noticed was the
physical effect. As a result of taking this class, I am in much better shape. For example, my posture and coordination
are better. Salsa dancing requires a lot of physical energy and burns a lot of calories, so I have lost several pounds.
Another effect is that I have more self-confidence. Consequently, my social skills have improved and I have become
more outgoing. Finally, I have met a lot of great people taking salsa classes. This leads to the biggest effect on my life.
I am engaged to marry a great guy that I met in the class. Considering all the effects, taking a salsa dance class has
been one of the best decisions in my life.
Sample Paragraph 2

Letting alcohol take control over your life has many negative effects on a person and the people around them.
One important effect is the damage you can do to your body. Drinking can lead to severe illness and even death;
some health consequences might be liver disease, kidney failure and, for pregnant women, the loss of their unborn
child. Another detriment is that addiction could lead to drinking and driving; possibly causing a serious car accident for
yourself and an innocent by-stander. Moreover, alcohol may result in destruction in relationships. Alcohol can have
very serious effects on a person’s temperament, which can lead to spousal and even child abuse. Alcohol often is the
number one cause in divorce and spending time in jail. It can also affect relationships outside of the family; many
people have lost lifelong friends due to foolish arguments. Lastly, drinking has negative effects on self-esteem and
rational thinking. People become more self-centered, develop low self-esteem, doing things or behaving in ways that
they would not normally do. To sum up, the negative effects of alcohol are overwhelming when we consider the
consequences that drinkers and the people around them have to deal with.

Sample Paragraph 3

Pollution, which is one of the biggest problems facing the world today, has many effects on human life. First of
all, pollution is bad for people's health. For example, smog, caused by car's exhaust fumes and factory emissions, can
lead to lung diseases in humans. Also, food and water can be polluted by poisonous chemicals, and this can cause
cancer in the people who consume them. Another effect of pollution is the destruction of human habitat. Thus, an oil
spill can make an area where people previously lived uninhabitable. Another example is the nuclear disaster in
Fukushima, Japan, which made it impossible for people to live in a large area around the site of the explosion. Finally,
pollution can also have a negative effect on people's psychology. People who live in a clean, unspoilt landscape like
the Swiss Alps will tend to be more positively affected by their environment than people who live in a polluted,
rubbish-strewn city such as London. To sum up, pollution has many negative effects on the lives of humans.

Writing Topic Sentences for Effect Paragraphs

The topic sentence for a paragraph states the effects or results. Study the examples:

1. ___________ several important effects on __________.

Ex: Global warming has several important effects on our environment.
Computers have had several important effects on society.
The birth of my twins has had several effects on my life.

2. There are a number of consequences of ____________.

Ex: There are a number of consequences of global warming.

3. _________________________ has caused/ caused _______________.

Ex: The flood caused a lot of problems in our town.

ACTIVITY 9. Write topic sentences for the paragraphs below.

Paragraph 1
Music for Children

________________________________________________________. Some studies show that listening to

music can increase a child’s verbal and emotional intelligence. It can also improve concentration and stimulate
creative thinking. Some scientists think music can even improve children’s memory. Finally, music can relax children
and make them feel more comfortable. Overall, it seems that music is beneficial to children’s learning and sense of
well-being.
Paragraph 2
The Effects of Affordable Automobiles on Society

________________________________________________________. First of all, cars helped the societies

become more mobile. Cars made it possible for people to move out of the cities and into the suburbs. They also
affected the growth of new businesses. Gas stations, auto repair shops, and roadside restaurants became necessary.
In addition, new roads were built as a result of the increase in the number of the cars. All of these changes meant that
the cars transformed the lifestyle of millions of people.

Paragraph 3
The Positive Effects of Watching Television

________________________________________________________. One effect is that students can

improve their pronunciation by listening to the people talking on television. In addition, students see how native
speakers interact while they are talking. As a result, they can observe the gestures and natural body language that are
part of communication. Most importantly, because the people on TV use so many idioms, students will hear them used
in context. This will help students better understand the meaning of idioms, To sum up, television has become an
indispensable part of learning English.

PRACTISE PARAGRAPH: Choose one topic among the alternatives below and write a well-developed cause OR
effect paragraph. Support your paragraph with examples or additional details. Don’t forget to choose a suitable title for
your paragraph. Make an outline before you start.

1. The causes or effects of telling lies

2. The causes or effects of war
3. The causes or effects of global climate change
In your paragraph, make sure to include: Pay attention to:
• your topic and concluding sentence, • the content,
• three major supporting ideas, • the organization,
• details and examples, • the accuracy of the language,
• appropriate connectors. • mechanics and use of transitions

★ Now, get a blank piece of paper and write your paragraph.

KEY

Activity 1. Sunlight has some positive effects. Thus, we should not completely avoid going out in the sun.
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2. Sunlight produces Vitamin D, so we need sunlight for a healthy body.   
3. Sunlight affects the human body clock. As a result, regular exposure to the sun helps people sleep
better.

4.  Very few people pay taxes in this country. Therefore, the government is always poor and has to
borrow money from other countries.

5. Carlos couldn’t speak the language/ Japanese. For this reason, he found working in Japan very
difficult

Activity 1. Migration to bigger cities is the consequence of poor living conditions.

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2. Changes in water levels result from gradual warming of the atmosphere.

3. Accidents on the road are the effects of driving carelessly.

4. Eating too much is caused by depression, stress, and boredom.

Activity 1. since 2. consequently     3. due to 4. because

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Activity 1. first 4.Another 7. For example

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2. Brings about 5. Likewise 8. In summary

3. Therefore 6. Final